The newest member

Tyler having his first "legal" beer in Canada. She didn't even card him:(

Thank you Rich and Andy for helping Tyler. We have the best family. 

Dan and Victoria had their second baby girl born today at 3:55am. Her name is Oakley Anne. She is 7lbs 5oz and 19 in long. We can't wait to meet our newest neice!

The three DeVos grandkids. 

Belly Up!

Today we had Hollie and Cooper over for a play date. The kids did so much running that Everlee went right to sleep at nap time. 

She's got the moves...

After every run down the slide she ran to the fountain, pushed me away, and said "baby do it." She drank a lot more water from the fountain than I've ever seen her drink out of her Minnie cup. 

She  likes to climb up and slide off the end and say "weee!"

After she figured out she could swing this way she spent the better part of an hour doing this everytime she climbed up and before she went down the slide. She is so strong for a tiny tot!

At the Barber

We brought Cooper with us to the Barber to get a haircut with Steve. I became one of those aunts bribing their nephew with treats. Here he is eating a few chocolate bunnies while we wait for Coopers turn. 

Looking at the Good Guys car magazine...still waiting...

No there aren't any pics of the actual haircut. Let's just say I held him on my lap, the cape was on the floor and the building next door now knows Cooper has a good set of lungs. Fortunately, we didn't traumatize him too much because afterwards at home Cooper still sat by Steve and gave him many hugs:)

It's all about family

Thursday morning Maci and I joined Hollie and Cooper at the indoor playground. Maci's little sister, Mila, was born two weeks ago and this little break gave Jessi a much needed rest. 

After nap time the Smith's came over. The girls loved the new tea party set. 

Then Steve and Tyler joined us. Tyler did playdoh time with the kids and like usual Steve got  20 hugs from Cooper and Everlee. 

Thank you to Rich for the impromptu pizza party. It's so fun to get together on a random Thursday night:)

Terrific Tuesday

After nap Everlee usually SITS and watches a short cartoon and eats a snack. Today she was  super squirrelly. 

Today I let Everlee play with my phone. She usually looks at the pictures and videos. This time she had a different idea. This is one of 73 selfies she took. Afterwards, she called Steve and talked to him. 

I got to help with bath time today. She thought it was super funny to put bubbles on her face.

To say that I enjoy my Tuesday/ Thursday's with this little gal is an understatement. Lately, when I come I am greeted with a big smile, a happy feet dance and a hug. I love being an Aunt:)

Happy Valentine's Day

This morning Steve surprised me with flowers and wine for hearts day. I was very smitten with his thoughtful efforts and appreciate everything he does to keep a smile on my face and love in my heart:)

Then it was off to watch chloe cheer at the iowa state fairgrounds. Her and the team did such a good job performing. 

After cheer and a delicious lunch at Noodle Zoo we settled in at the Smiths to catch the ISU game and see Tyler on tv. He camped out last night so he could see the victory from the front row. 

Magic tricks were this evenings entertainment after supper. 

Thanks to mom and dad for lunch and supper. What a treat to not have to cook. Thanks to the smiths for having us over. We enjoyed being able to spend the day with you:)

Gramma comes over for a visit

It was so much fun to have gramma with us before nap time to play. She must've worn Everlee out because she fell asleep after only 10 minutes in her crib. 

Pay it Forward

Per Andrea's recommendation we are at a little place in Ames called, The Grove Cafe. It was a delicious and plentiful home style breakfast cafe on Main St. When our check arrived the waitress told us that Medicap Pharmacy was "paying it forward" and our breakfast was on them. What a great surprise! Now it's our turn to pay it forward! 

40th birthday

4 candles on 4 brownies for my 40th. 

Celebrating my 40th in the Fox Hole with family. The best gift of all. 

I had a great day celebrating. It started off mom and I going to exercise class, then did some shopping, out for lunch at Panera, then on to an afternoon at the spa. Afterwards, we came home to celebrate with everyone. I loved all the texts, phone calls and messages from family and friends. What a fantastic 40th!

Indoor playground

This morning we hit up the playground for a morning activity. First thing was she wanted to be up riding the caterpillar. 

This was by far her favorite thing to do. Go down the slide and say "weeee!" Most of our time there was spent doing this. 

Tonight Steve and I had a fun family filled night. Ev came home with me and when we got home Steve  was waiting for us. Everlee was so excited to see him she ran to him and gave him a big hug. It was just adorable. 

Then grandma showed up and was surprised to be greeted by Everlee. 

Cousins reunited!

Then Rich and Dan showed up with a chair/ottoman and dinner for all of us! What a fun birthday eve:)

Super Saturday

Saturday we spent the day in Ft. Dodge with the Krier's. We watched Anthony play two basketball games, ate lunch ate a great local place to watch the ISU game, shopped(I picked out a few birthday gifts) and capped off the birthday night celebration with some drinks at Applebee's. What a great day filled with so many laughs:)

Curls

After nap Ev said "watch cartoon." So while we waited for the smith clan to arrive she chilled in her chair eating a snack watching Julius jr. 

I love everything about her hair: the color, the thickness and especially those curls! 

No nap Everlee

After lunch Everlee asked me, "more walking Paul Ginny's?" I told her we couldn't because it was cold and snowy outside today. (We love to walk next door and sit on their bench.) Since we couldn't go out I decided to bring the outside in. I filled up a bowl with snow and she loved playing in it! After play time I thought she would be ready for her usual nap....

.....but she wasn't! After 90 minutes of doing everything in her room but nap I went in to get her. She went right to her pink chair, tipped it over, climber up the back and slid down at least a dozen times. This cutie sure keeps things interesting;)

5k snow scamper 2015 weekend

Mom and I toughed out the muddy, icy, and hilly course at hillview to finish in 41min 21 sec. All while Steve and dad enjoyed their guy time at the motorcycle shop. 

I loved being able to see my sweet neice Emelia before and after the race. I also won a $10 gift card to Fareway in the raffle drawing. 

Then Saturday after the ISU victory we headed to Aurelia to spend the night with our best friends the Krier's and Ohlson's. We enjoyed a great supper of smoked meat and all the sides at the local tavern. Afterwards we played Battle of the Sexes. The men's team won but we all enjoyed the many laughs. 

My first birthday gift to start out birthday month from my best friend, Rachel. 

Good family, good friends definitely equals good times:)